My Republica

SHREE RAM SUBEDI

The author is a special correspondent with Republica.
srsubedi@gmail.com

Rapid Diagnostic Test not reliable: WHO Nepal Office

Published On: April 7, 2020 07:35 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, April 7: As Nepal braces for employing Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits to detect Covid-19 cases in three districts, the World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal office has said that these kits are not reliable for the confirmation of the disease.

Experts say WHO guidelines hindering expansion of test base

Published On: April 6, 2020 09:10 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, April 6: As Nepal recorded the first locally-transmitted case of COVID-19 on Saturday, there is a growing concern about a likely outbreak should a mass testing campaign not be rolled out soon.

Focus on COVID-19 could increase mortality of other diseases

Published On: April 2, 2020 12:30 PM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, April 2: Bijaya Kushwaha, 25, of Kalaiya, Bara sustained a leg injury while operating a thresher machine on Friday. A local medic gave 35 stitches to his wound before he was taken to the National Medical College, Birgunj on Saturday for further treatment. But after he developed cough and fever early Sunday, the hospital declined to continue his treatment suspecting it to be a COVID-19 case and instead referred him to the Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH) in Kathmandu. Unfortunately, Kushwaha died on his way to Kathmandu.

14 days' isolation required even after discharge from hospital: Chinese doctors

Published On: March 29, 2020 11:43 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, March 29: Amid concerns that researchers have not been able to make vaccines universally applicable to every patient battling Covid-19, doctors from China and Nepal on Saturday shared their experiences of medical treatment and containment of the deadly virus via a video conference.

Why we fear and how we can overcome it?

Published On: March 25, 2020 09:20 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, March 25: With the second case of novel coronavirus detected in Nepal, the ordinary public is grappling with fear and uncertainty. How long will this go? Will it contain or will it become contagious?

Rs 1.86 billion program to address disability rolled out in Province 1

Published On: March 18, 2020 07:41 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, March 18: In September last year, the Ministry of Social Development, Province 1 signed an agreement with Karuna Foundation, an NGO, to implement a Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Program (DPRP). This 1.86 billion-rupee project is looking to develop disability-inclusive communities through community-based healthcare.

Govt lab can test only 500 cases a week for COVID-19

Published On: March 12, 2020 01:20 PM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, March 12: The government is slated to operate 24-hours call center to respond to public inquiries regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus from Friday.

One-stop portal on COVID-19 urgently needed: Experts

Published On: March 9, 2020 07:35 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, March 9: While the public is grappling with fears of possible outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, Nepal lacks an official single window for information to provide authentic and updated information on the deadly virus.  The public is being bombarded with information lacking authenticity, which only exacerbates unnecessary fear.

Inside Nepal’s preparations against possible COVID-19 outbreak

Published On: March 7, 2020 08:35 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, March 7: During a daily press briefing on Feb 28, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, hailed Nepal for its efforts in containing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). “Countries including China, Singapore, Nepal and Vietnam have shown that containment measures can work,” the WHO chief said.

Kathmandu slightly up in global air quality ranking

Published On: February 28, 2020 08:25 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Feb 28: Kathmandu has shown a slight improvement in average air quality, with its position sliding to 137th  most polluted city in the world in 2019 from 100th position in 2018.

Baskota tweet misfires

Published On: February 22, 2020 08:12 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: In a tweet early Friday, the erstwhile Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota had extended his best wishes to all Hindus on the occasion of Mahashivaratri festival. It was his first tweet after he was forced to tender resignation from the ministerial post Thursday after his controversial audiotape went viral on mass media.

CBS will use census method to collect details of sexual and gender minorities

Published On: February 15, 2020 09:45 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Feb 15: It is now official. The 2021 national census will employ the census method to collect the details of the population of the sexual and gender minorities, who are looking to further their identities and ensure their rights according to their numerical strength.

Govt set to establish Think Tank Group on climate change

Published On: February 12, 2020 09:12 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Feb 12: With the emergence of climate change as a key issue at both national and international platforms, the government is mulling over establishing a  "Think-Tank Group"  on climate change. The proposed expert group will provide perennial expertise on the issue of climate change, which largely demands inter-sectoral collaboration and multi-disciplinary knowledge.

World Wetlands Day a low-key affair in Nepal

Published On: February 3, 2020 08:43 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Feb 3: As the world celebrated the World Wetlands Day on February 2, Nepal joined the bandwagon. However, it remained a  low-key affair, with wetland enthusiasts worried for their poor conservation status.

Nepal’s climate targets woefully failing implementation test

Published On: January 29, 2020 07:50 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Jan 29: Under the Paris Agreement 2015, Nepal had promised to meet 14 targets related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in 2016. Four years on, the majority of the targets set under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) have not been met thanks to weak implementation and the ambitious nature of the targets themselves. And this, experts warn, could raise a ‘question mark’ over Nepal’s commitment made at the global forum.

Multibillion-rupee strategy to revamp agriculture is disowned, directionless

Published On: January 14, 2020 07:19 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Jan 14: In his first term as prime minister, KP Oli put his signature on the Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) document on July 20, 2016. Oli again came to power in February 2018 and covered more than two consecutive fiscal years of ADS implementation. However, it has been found that the 20-year strategy covering 2015 to 2035 and subsequent ten-year action plan, has been largely disowned by the government as its major recommendations and provisions remain unimplemented.

New action plan against Valley air pollution proposes drastic measures

Published On: January 10, 2020 07:33 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Jan 10: With the air pollution levels in Kathmandu Valley skyrocketing during winter, it looks like the government is finally waking up to the menace. After two years of preparations, an Air Quality Management Action Plan for the Valley has now reached the Council of Ministers, which is likely to endorse it soon.

PM’s 10-yr Rs 131-billion agri projectspent just over 5% in three years

Published On: December 30, 2019 07:57 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Dec 30: Though one-third time of the 10-year ‘Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (PMAMP)’ launched in 2016 has already elapsed, the fiscal and physical progress of the priority project stands far below the target, raising doubts if the initiative will be able to deliver on its initial promises.

Why Rs 155 million ‘Mission Onion’ failed

Published On: December 10, 2019 06:45 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Dec 10: The government  spent Rs 155 million on a five-year dedicated program to increase onion production and substitute imports of the bulb crop. Sadly, the program faced  abrupt closure.

Westerly wind clears Kathmandu air

Published On: December 2, 2019 08:03 AM NPT By: SHREE RAM SUBEDI

KATHMANDU, Dec 2: Kathmanduites can take a respite from the winter pollution, at least for a few days. And the credit goes to the westerly wind that has blown away the dust particles eastward.